Willingness to ease off 'debt brake' may decide the German election

Germany is used to running its economy with the brake on. Ever since the 2008 financial crisis Berlin has sought to burnish a reputation as the world capital of fiscal discipline, with a near-pious aversion to debt and pride in strong government finances. Under a rule known as the "debt brake" - introduced in 2009 by Angela Merkel to show Germany was committed to balancing the books after the banking crash - the federal government is required to limit annual borrowing to 0.35% of GDP. After this weekend's elections it might not be long before the constitutional handbrake is relaxed…